Kevin Denkey and Yuya Kubo scored in the second half, and FC Cincinnati beat visiting Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday night.
Following numerous quality chances and near misses, Cincinnati (2-1-0, 6 points) broke through late in the match when a video review determined the ball hit the arm of Toronto’s Tyrese Spicer in the box, after the foul was not initially called.
Denkey then stepped to the spot in the 73rd minute, veteran Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson guessed wrong, and the Togolese striker drilled the ball into the lower left corner of the net for his second MLS goal of the season.
Kubo then added some 88th-minute insurance for FC Cincinnati, who extended their unbeaten stretch over Toronto FC (0-2-1, 1 point) to 6-0-1. Despite being outshot 8-1 via on-target attempts, Johnson kept Toronto FC in the match with some solid saves.
Though Cincinnati held 64 percent of the first-half possession and a 6-1 advantage in shots (3-0 on target), the host didn’t seriously threaten until the final 15 minutes before the break.
In the 39th minute, Luca Orellano’s bending left-foot drive was punched away by a diving Johnson. Then teammate Corey Baird hit the post for FC Cincinnati. Two minutes later, Johnson came up with another key save, this time via Kubo’s strike.
Toronto, meanwhile, recorded its first true scoring threat right away in the second half. However, FC Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano corralled the ball in his gut, on the ground, off Kosi Thompson’s open look just two minutes after halftime.
Meanwhile, Orellano just missed again, this time wide to the right at 57 minutes. His next shot went over the bar, off the hand of Johnson, three minutes later.
Some 15 minutes after Denkey’s goal, Kubo was the recipient of a well-placed long ball from Evander, and successfully right-footed a grounder past Johnson.
Cincinnati held a 13-6 advantage in overall shot attempts.
–Field Level Media
